Equalizer



July 8, 1947. 1 s. M.\MOM. BURKE w 2,423,550

EQUALI ZER Fil ed Aug. 19, 1944 W i z a Patented July 8, 1947 Nl'l soSTAT E s PAT ENT on m:

EQUALIZER Stella M. McMahon Burke, L'os Angeles; Galif. ,ApplicationAugust 19, 1944,,Se1ialffNofl55W235 (C1. Z- Z) lClainis.

This invention relates to an equalizer.

An objectof thejnventionis'm provide a simple, inexpensive constructionfor inextensibly connecting two parts but which will .enable the partsto wprkreadijly relatively to each other and if necessary, to assumedisaligned or angular relationship with respect to eachother.

The improved equalizer "has been primarily designed forconnecting endsor .items of wearing apparel, such as for example the ends of abrassiere but it may be used wherever an analogous situation exists Whenemployed to connect the ends of a brassi'ere the improved equalizerinextensibly connects the ends of the brassiere, but permits the top ofone side of the brassire to move outwardly at the expense of inwardmovement .of the bottom of the same end as may be occasioned bymovements of the body of the wearer. In this -manner, the over-allefiective length of "the equalizerremains substantially constant so thatthe brassi-ere will not loosen. At the same time the jconstructionissuch that working orflexing of the brassiere ends, one relatively to theother is readily permitted .as may be required by bodym'ovem'ent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the equalizer embodying thepresent invention in its simplest form;

Fig. 2 is a partial view in side elevation illustrating use of theequalizer embodying the present invention in a more elaborateconstruction; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the elaborate constructionshown in Fig. 2, as applied to the body of the wearer.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the invention has beenillustrated as having been employed to connect the ends of a brassire B,such ends being indicated at Ill and II. The equalizer embodying thepresent invention consists of four rings I2, I3, I4, and I5. These ringsmay be formed of plastic, metal, glass, or any other smooth materialhaving a relatively low coeficient of friction so that the tape I6 thatconnects them may readily slide therethrough. The tape I6 is preferablya woven tape but may be any adequately strong flexible material. Itsends are secured together so that in effect the tape isendless, Thistape is run through the rings in such a manner that there are upperanddower reaches I and +8 connecting rings and I3, and Hi and I5respectively, and crossed reaches I9 and 2%! connecting rings 12 andI-'li,'and *I-Band-I l, respectively. The rings I2 and I 4 maybepermanently attached to the end 'I'fi,-such'as by loops or tapes 2dand either or both of the rings I3 and I5 may be detachablyconnectedto'the end I-I, sllGhaS by loops 22 which are receivable overbuttons 23. Any other form of separable fastener could be'employed forthis purpose, such as for example, hooks and eyes; snap buttons, or theequivalent. It is not essential that the-rings I3 and I5 be detachabl-yconnec-tedto the-endl I nor is it essential that more than one of theserings be detachably "connected to the end M. It is highly desirable,however, that the rings be capable of rotating or sliding and thusturning in their respective loops 2i and 22. With the equalizer thusconstructed it is obvious that movements of :the wearers bod-y tendingto pull the top edges of the ends I9 and II apart are accommodated bythe tape I=6-=merely sliding through the rings at the expense of thedistance between the rings I4 and I5. Thus, as indicated in Fig. 1 bydotted lines, the exact distance between rings I2 and I3 may slightlyincrease while the exact distance between rings I4 and I5 slightlydecreases. On the other hand, if movements of the wearer's body are suchas to require rings I4 and I5 to separate slightly, this is permitted bythe tape sliding through the rings and drawing rings I2 and I3 towardseach other. The effective overall length of the equalizer remainssubstantially constant but the ends of the brassiere are permitted toreadily work relatively to each other in accordance with the demands ofthe wearers body.

In removing the brassiere the loops 22 may be slipped oil the buttons 23or otherwise detached from the end II and where only one loop 22 isdetachably connected to end II, this loop may be detached to permit thetape It to slide through the rings and thus, in effect, lengthen theoverall length of the equalizer to enable the brassire to be slippedover the wearers head.

In Fig, 1, the equalizer embodying the present invention is illustratedin its most simplified form. However, if desired, in addition theretothere may be upper and lower equalizers combined therewith. Thus, asillustrated in Fig. 2, there may be an upper endless tape 24 which isrun through rings I2 and I3 and upper rings 25 and 26 providing twospaced connecting reaches 21 and 28 and crossed reaches 29 and 3%. Rings25 and 26 may be connected to shoulder straps or the equivalentindicated at 3!.

A lower equalizer may also be combined with the equalizer on thebrassire consisting of a lower endless tape 32 run through rings [4 andI5 and through lower rings 33 and 34, providing connecting reaches 35and 35 and crossed reaches 31 and 38. The lower rings 33 and 3 5 may inturn provide a connection for attachment to a skirt or slacks, or mayhave hose supporters attached thereto. These upper and lower equalizerfunction in a similar manner in that one side may be extended at theexpense of the other to meet the requirements of movements of thewearers body. At the same time, the overall or efiective length of theequalizer is maintained constant. As the rings present a relativelyfrictionless surface, the tapes readily slide therethrough to meet thevario-us demands placed upon the equalizer.

In the preferred form of construction the.

crossed reaches of each equalizer employed are arranged against thewearer's body and the connecting reaches are arranged outwardlytherefrom.

From the above-described construction it will be appreciated that animproved equalizer is provided which is of relatively simple, durable,and highly efficient construction.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. An equalizer comprising four spaced rings, an endless flexible memberslidably extending through the rings and providing two connectingreaches and two crossed reaches, an additional pair of rings and asecond flexible member slidably extending through two of the rings ofthe mentioned four and said additional pair of rings, providing tWoconnecting reaches and two crossed reaches.

2. An equalizer comprising four spaced rings, an endless flexible memberslidably extending through the rings and providing two connectingreaches and two crossed reaches, an additional pair of rings, and asecond flexible member slidably extending through two of the rings ofthe mentioned four and said additional pair of rings, providing twoconnecting reaches and two crossed reaches, and a second pair ofadditional rings on the opposite side of the mentioned four rings fromsaid pair of additional rings, and a third flexible member slidablyextending through said second pair of additional rings of the mentionedfour, providing two connecting reaches and two crossed reaches.

3. An equalizer comprisin four spaced rings arranged in pairs and inapproximately the same plane, means running through the rings of eachpair for attaching the rings of each pair to parts which are to be heldagainst separation, and an endless flexible member connecting said ringshave two connecting reaches each of which is positioned against theobverse sides of the rings and two crossed reaches positioned againstthe reverse sides of the rings, said flexible member slidably extendingthrough said rings.

l. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means connectin the ringsof each pair to its respective part is flexible and permits the rings toslidably turn therein.

STELLA M. MCMAHON BURKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,442,374 7 Watts Jan. 16, 19231,412,033 Able Apr. 11, 1922 173,513 Sterling Feb. 15, 1876 814,345Bacon Mar. 6, 1906 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 364,931 GreatBritain Jan. 14, 1932

